The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-11-17
PROHIBITION IN ATLANTA.

ed to a place among great events.
No election of a local nature was
ever before held in a city of sixty
thousand people, in which more was
involved. The changes proposed
by 1t were so radical as to be almost
revolutionary. Over one hundred
business houses we're to be closed.
Nearly five hundred men were to be
forced to give up chosen employ
ment. The city treasury was to be
left with $4,000 less revenue.
Trade amounting annually to milli-
ons was to be turned away from the
city. Many large business houses
were to be left unrented. OF course,
a movement proposing measures so
radical met with the most spirited
and determined opposition. Many OF
our best citizens regarded it with
outspoken disfavor.
1t was said that prohibition in
city so large as this was impractical
BILE; that it would not prohibit; that
the trade would be injured; that
taxes would be increased; that the
stores in which the liquor business
was carried on would not be rented
for other purposes that the same
amount of whisky would be- drunk
with the law as with out it, the city
would only miss the revenue; that
it would be q death-blow to Allan
ta's progress.
1t has now been eighteen months
since the election, and twelve months
since the law went into effect. We
are prepared thus from observation
TO note results.
Prohibition IN this city does pro-
hiba. The law is observed as well
as the law against carrying conceal
ed weapons, gambling, theft, and
other offences of like character. If
there had been as many people in
favor of carrying concealed weapons,
theft, gambling, etc., as there were
in favor of the retail of ardent spirits
twelve months ago, law against these
things would not have been carried
out as well as it was against the Ii
quor trade. In consideration of the
small majority with which Prohibit
ton was carried, and the large num-
Der of people who were opposed TO
seeing it prohibit, the law has been
marvelously well observed.
Prohibition has not injured the
city financially. According to the
assessors books. property in the
city has increased over 1000, 900.
Taxes have not been increased. Two
streets in the city, Decatur and
Peters, were known as liquor streets.
1t was hardly considered proper for
lady to walk these streets without
an escort. Now they are just as
orderly as any in the city. Prop
erty on them has advanced from ten
to twenty-five per cent. The loss of
$40, 900 revenue consequent on clos
ing the saloons, has tended in no
degree to impede the city's progress
IN any direction. Large appropria-
tions have been made to the water
works, the public schools, the Pied
mont Fair, and other improvements.
The business men have raised $780,
600 to build the Atlanta & Hawkins
vile Railroad. The number of city
banks is to be increased to five.
The coming of four new railroads
has been sttled during the year.
Fifteen new stores containing house
furnishing goods have been started
since prohibition went into effect
these are doing well. More furniture
has been sold to mechanics and
laboring men in the last twelve
months than in any twelve months
during the history of the city. The
manufacturing establishments of the
city have received new life. A glass
factory has been built. A cotton
seed oil mill is being built worth
$4,000. All improvement com
panies with a basis in real estate
have seen their stocks doubled in
value since the election on prohibit
ton.
Stores in which the liquor trade
was conducted are not vacant, but
are now occupied by other lines of
trade. According to the real estate
men more laborers and men of
limited means are buying lots than
ever before. Rents are more prompt
ly paid than formerly. More houses
are rented by the same number of
families than heretofore. Before
prohibition, sometimes as many as
three families would live in one
house. The heads of those families
are now not spending their money
for drink are each able to rent
house. thus using three instead of
one. Workingmen who formly spent
a great part of their money for
liquor, now spend it in food and
clothes for their families. The re-
tail grocery men sell more goods
and collect their bills better than
ever before. Thus they are able to
settle more promptly with the whole
sale men.
A preceptible increase has been
noticed in the number of people
who ride ON the street cars. Ac-
cording too the coal-dealers, many
people bought coal and stored it
away last winter who had never
been known to do SO before. Others
who had been accustomed to buy
ng two or three tons on time, this
IL